Hostel La Ballena Roja is a good hostel with a superb location, nice for travelers who want to get into the laid-back beach vibes and aren't too fussed with having to wait to use the bathroom/shower.
The Location
It's got a great location once you get here -- as it is a hop, skip and a jump from the beach -- and there's a quite well-stocked supermarket just over the road. It is a bit of a trek from the town centre, where some of the buses stop, but there are bus stops along the highway that can be used for getting into and leaving town. The hostel is very easy to find, as it is well signed. There is also a handful of restaurants and bars surrounding the hostel, all within walking distance.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorms are available in six-person options with bunk beds; these do lock, but you are not given a key and there are no lockers. Staff are able to keep valuables behind the front desk for you during the day, but as the hostel is not manned at night, security is a bit of a worry.
For private rooms, there are single double-bed rooms with or without a private shower and double double-bed options that do have a shower.
The bathroom is a bit of a problem -- while it is large and roomy, having a single shower/toilet for those guests that don't have a private bathroom could lead to a bottleneck when the hostel is busy. The bathroom is clean and spacious, but doesn't have much in the way of hooks or shelving. However, the toilet is right by the shower so you can get by with a little improvisation.
Common Spaces
There are plenty of common spaces with a reasonably clean and well-stocked kitchen, laundry area, backyard patch of grass, and heaps of general seating areas. Staff will take luggage and store it behind the counter and there is a book exchange. The hostel is fairly social, especially as there is an attached cafe that attracts other tourists wandering past, but this cafe does not intrude into the hostel itself.
Summary
This is a solid hostel that's not perfect, but it does the best that it can with what it has, and there is nothing so problematic as to ruin your stay in Uvita, especially with the beach and good shops and restaurants so close.
We compare all hostel prices in Uvita for you. So you save money and time!
Sadly, this hostel has closed.
On the bright side, there are more hostels in Uvita...
How to book...
your hostels in Uvita
HostelworldCheck directly alternative Hostels with Hostelworld.com.
How is Hostel La Ballena Roja rated?
Hostel La Ballena Roja Reviews
The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Candy
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Apr 22, 2019
Location and Contact
Location
• From the Airport of San Jose by car or taxi:
• Get on Circunvalación/Paseo de la Segunda República in San José from Av 51, Calle 98/Calle Alexander Humboldt/Calle Alexander von Humboldt, Calle 92 and Vía 104/Route 104
• Follow Route 27, Carr. Pacífica Fernández Oreamuno/Route 34 and Costanera Sur to Camino a Playa Colonia in Uvita
• Turn right onto Camino a Playa Colonia. Destination will be on the left
• Hostel La Ballena Roja
Facilities and Amenities
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
Parking
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Airport Pickup
Bike Rental
City Tours
Luggage Storage
Clothes Dryer
Credit Card Payments
Entirely Non-Smoking
Food/Restaurant
Laundry
Lounge Area
Curfew: No Curfew
See all hostels in Uvita
Get access to exclusive hostel content
Create your Free Account
